transdisciplinary development of agroforestry systems

125 Pages·2013·1.96 MB·English

by  Firesenai Sereke

ETH Library
Transdisciplinary development of
agroforestry systems
Doctoral Thesis
Author(s):
Sereke, Firesenai
Publication date:
2012
Permanent link:
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-009753126
Rights / license:
In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted
This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection.
For more information, please consult the Terms of use.
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TRANSDISCIPLINARY DEVELOPMENT

OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

Firesenai Sereke

A dissertation submitted to ETH ZURICH ¦ 2012
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3

Diss. ETH No. 20187

T
RANSDISCIPLINARY DEVELOPMENT

OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

A dissertation submitted to
ETH ZURICH
for the degree of
D S
OCTOR OF CIENCES

presented by

FIRESENAI SEREKE

DIPLOMA IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
University of Hohenheim
born June 30th, 1974

accepted on the recommendation of:

Prof. Jaboury Ghazoul, examiner
Prof. Bernard Lehmann, co-examiner
Prof. Georg Cadisch, co-examiner
Dr. Felix Herzog, co-examiner

2012
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“Auch wenn ich wüsste, dass morgen die Welt zugrunde geht,
würde ich heute noch einen Apfelbaum pflanzen.“
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces,
I would still plant my apple tree.”
(Martin Luther, 1483-1546)

Massongo oral tradition:
"A man lives again
through his children,
the trees he has planted,
the words he has uttered"
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List of Photos

Cover page
1) Transdisciplinary development of agroforestry systems with an innovative farmer (Edi Hilpert) in
Möhlin, Switzerland (photo: Alexandra Kaeser).
2) Silvoarable agroforestry innovation with triticale between tree lines in Charente-Maritime, France
(photo: http://www.montpellier.inra.fr/safe).
3) Nid de chouette in Vallorbe, Switzerland (photo: Dominique Favre).
4) Silvopastoral agroforestry innovation in Switzerland (photo: Mario Waldburger).

Proverbs
1) Erste Schweizerische Scherenschnitt-Ausstellung, Winterthur 1985, Switzerland (photo:
Gewerbemuseum Winterthur).
2) Alternative “Green Revolution” in the West-African Sahel, an aerial view of a Sahelian parkland
dominated by gao trees (Faidherbia albida), Niger (photo: Chris Reij).
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CONTENTS

Summary

Zusammenfassung

Résumé

1 General introduction ............................................................................................... 17
1.1 Competing views on agroecosystem management................................................ 19
1.2 Swiss agroforestry ................................................................................................... 21
1.3 Transdisciplinary assessment of agroecosystem management............................ 23
1.4 Research objectives ................................................................................................. 24
1.5 References ................................................................................................................ 26
2 Classification and bio-economic assessment of farmers‘ agroforestry
innovations in Switzerland .................................................................................................... 29
2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 32
2.2 Material and methods ............................................................................................. 34
2.2.1 Classification of Swiss agroforestry ....................................................................... 34
2.2.2 Bio-physical assessment .......................................................................................... 35
2.2.3 Economic assessment .............................................................................................. 36
2.2.4 Definition of Scenarios ............................................................................................ 38
2.3 Results and discussion ............................................................................................. 40
2.3.1 Classification of Swiss agroforestry ....................................................................... 40
2.3.2 Bio-physical assessment .......................................................................................... 43
2.3.3 Economic assessment .............................................................................................. 47
2.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 51
2.5 References ................................................................................................................ 52
3 Motivations of Swiss farmers to plant trees - it’s not all about money .............. 57
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 60
3.1.1 Changing policies and landscapes .......................................................................... 60
3.1.2 Changing behavior .................................................................................................. 61
3.2 Method...................................................................................................................... 62
3.3 Results ...................................................................................................................... 64
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3.3.1 Intention: adopters and non-adopters ................................................................... 65
3.3.2 Socio-economic characteristics: business as usual ............................................... 65
3.3.3 Pessimistic attitudes and popular fruit orchards ................................................. 66
3.3.4 Low perceived behavioral control ......................................................................... 68
3.3.5 Ecological motivations ............................................................................................ 68
3.3.6 Economic de-motivations ........................................................................................ 68
3.3.7 Subjective norms: reputational risks..................................................................... 69
3.4 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 70
3.4.1 Intention: two knowledge systems ......................................................................... 70
3.4.2 Opportunity costs: barrier for change? ................................................................ 71
3.4.3 Farmer-led joint research ....................................................................................... 72
3.4.4 Towards ecological and economic win-win solutions ........................................... 72
3.4.5 Exchange to overcome social resistance ................................................................ 74
3.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 75
3.6 References ................................................................................................................ 76
4 Developing tree-rich agroecosystems – lessons from transdisciplinary success
stories 81
4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 84
4.2 The “Streuobst” success story (1850–1950) .......................................................... 85
4.2.1 Historical developments in Central Europe ......................................................... 85
4.2.2 What was achieved? ................................................................................................ 86
4.2.3 How was it achieved? .............................................................................................. 87
4.3 The Sahelian “Green Revolution” ......................................................................... 89
4.3.1 Recent developments in the West African Sahel .................................................. 89
4.3.2 What has been achieved? ........................................................................................ 89
4.3.3 How was it achieved? .............................................................................................. 90
4.4 Lessons for fruitful transdisciplinary collaboration ............................................ 91
4.4.1 Co-producing visions, knowledge & technologies ................................................ 92
4.4.2 Creating market opportunities for ecosystem goods and services ...................... 93
4.4.3 Empowering sustainable policies and local governance ...................................... 94
4.5 References ................................................................................................................ 96
5 Synthesis ................................................................................................................. 101
5.1 Summary ................................................................................................................ 103
5.2 Discussion ............................................................................................................... 105
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5.2.1 Bio-economic challenges and opportunities ........................................................ 105
5.2.2 Social challenges and opportunities ..................................................................... 106
5.2.3 The potential of payments for ecosystem services .............................................. 108
5.2.4 Transdisciplinary collaboration for positive change.......................................... 109
5.3 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 111
5.4 References .............................................................................................................. 112
Appendices ............................................................................................................................ 115
Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. 125